A Very Private Merger
4 Stars

Jack Sinclair's plans for revenge against his father's legitimate children, the Kincaids, are set back when he learns that Nikki Thomas, the woman he has grown closer to over the past few months, works for the Kincaid Group as a corporate investigator. Jack's problems are compounded when he becomes the prime suspect in his father's murder. Can Jack put his pride aside to ask Nikki and his half-siblings for help in clearing his name?

This is the conclusion to the multi-author series. While each of the books focuses on one of the Kincaid siblings, they also contain short snippets detailing the progression of Jack and Nikki's romance. As this book begins well into their relationship, it is necessary to read these short chapters to understand both their characters and the ongoing story arc revolving around the murder of Reginald Kincaid.

While some of the twists in the book have been obvious from the start, i.e., the identities of both the secret shareholder as well as Reginald's killer, the development of the romance and the resolution of the mystery are satisfying.

Jack and Nikki's chemistry has been evident from the beginning of the series, and each of the short snippets only contributes to their appeal both as individuals and as a couple. It takes a skilled writer to provide the wealth of detail and characterization that Day LeClaire does in these sections. LeClaire builds on and enhances these in this concluding book. I am particularly grateful that she avoids the pitfalls of the keeping secrets and miscommunication tropes as both Nikki and particularly Jack behave like adults rather than whinny children.

Another highlight, aside from the wonderful romance, is Jack's interactions with his half-siblings as he finally allows himself to open up to the possibility of a relationship with them and to become a member of the family his has always longed-for.

Overall, this has been an entertaining series although books #2, #4 and #6 are the best. ( )